After years of speculation, bitter feuds, and dashed hopes, Oasis has officially returned to North America. On Sunday night, August 24, the Gallagher brothers stormed Toronto’s Rogers Stadium for their first concert on the continent in over 16 years. A sold-out crowd of more than 50,000 braved pouring rain to witness the start of the band’s long-awaited 2025 Oasis reunion tour, a night that was as chaotic as it was unforgettable.
From the moment Liam Gallagher sauntered on stage in his trademark parka and stance, it was clear the band intended to make a statement. Opening with “Hello,” they tore through the same 23-song setlist that powered the UK leg earlier this summer. Oasis songs like “Morning Glory,” “Acquiesce,” “Live Forever,” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol” kept the crowd roaring, while Noel Gallagher took his customary moment in the spotlight with “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and “The Masterplan.” The encore, capped off by “Champagne Supernova,” gave drenched fans one final, euphoric release.
If the weather threatened to dampen spirits, Liam refused to let it show. “It’s only a bit of rain, man. We’re from Manchester,” he quipped early in the set, later adding, “Don’t you just love it? A little bit of chaos when the weather comes.” His sharp wit felt perfectly in sync with the stormy backdrop — and only seemed to fuel the crowd’s energy.
Despite the excitement, Rogers Stadium’s selection as the tour’s first North American venue was not without controversy. Long criticised for its inconvenient location, fans had to endure a crowded subway journey and a strenuous uphill walk to reach the gates. As fans crowded into the stadium, the early evening drizzle had already soaked many of them.
Inside, the tension and excitement were palpable. An overhead countdown clock ratcheted up the nerves before the opening act, Cage The Elephant, took the stage. Frontman Matt Shultz spoke to the crowd, admitting what many in attendance felt: this wasn’t just another concert; it was a moment in rock history.
Of course, the Gallagher brothers’ tumultuous history looms over every performance. Since their bitter 2009 split, fans have speculated endlessly about whether Liam and Noel would ever share a stage again. Yet on Sunday, the tension seemed to dissolve in the music.
Noel, in his first public comments about the tour on talkSPORT last week, admitted he’s been “blown away” by the reception so far. “It’s been truly amazing. I’m not usually short for words,” he said. His harmonies and guitar work in Toronto echoed that sentiment, giving the set a precision that contrasted sharply with Liam’s raw power.
Early in the night, Liam relayed a story about a Montreal supporter who questioned whether Canadians could pull off the Poznan — the bouncing soccer celebration beloved by Manchester City fans. The crowd responded in kind, erupting into a spontaneous singalong of “Talk Tonight” and “Half the World Away.”
Still, the action wasn’t the relentless frenzy of a Taylor Swift or Coldplay stadium show. Though officially sold out, patches of empty seating dotted the upper decks, and many fans retreated to covered stairwells as rain intensified. By the time technicians scrambled on stage to wipe down drenched instruments, some concertgoers were already making an early exit. The band with Oasis’s reputation delivered a cathartic performance that rewarded those who stayed.
Toronto will host a second Oasis concert on Monday night before the tour rolls on to Chicago, East Rutherford, New Jersey, Los Angeles, and Mexico City.
